Warnings problems of the 2025 BMW X5

Vehicle: 2025 BMW X5 mileage at time of incident(s): 15,512 component: forward collision warning / pedestrian warning / automatic emergency braking (city collision mitigation) description of problem: on multiple occasions, the pedestrian warning and/or automatic emergency braking system on my 2025 BMW X5 has activated with no pedestrian, vehicle, or obstacle posing any actual risk to the vehicle. These false activations have occurred both at low speed (parking lots/driveways) and at normal driving speed on public roads. In at least two instances, the sudden, hard braking created a real risk of being rear-ended by the vehicle behind me, endangering occupants of both vehicles. Specific incidents: 1. Xxx, [xxx] (residential/local road): a vehicle merged into my lane from the left ahead of me while maintaining a consistent speed matching mine, posing no collision risk. My BMW slammed on the brakes without warning, nearly causing the vehicle behind me to rear-end us. This endangered multiple passengers in both vehicles. 2. Early xxx parking lot: while backing out of a parking space, a pedestrian was nearby but showed no indication of walking into the vehicle's path. The system triggered hard braking and an audible alarm with no actual risk present. 3. Xxx, local street: a pedestrian was walking on the sidewalk with no indication of intent to cross the street. The vehicle braked extremely hard and suddenly, without warning, creating a risk that the car behind us would rear-end us. I have not been in an accident as a result of these events, but the pattern shows the system engaging hard, sudden braking in response to non-threats, including at normal driving speeds on public roads, not just low-speed maneuvers. This creates a risk of rear-end collision and startles/endangers pedestrians and other drivers. I am submitting this report to document the issue and make NHTSA aware in case other X5 owners have this issue. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On September 2, 2025, my 2025 BMW X5 xdrive50e was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle. Despite the severity of the impact, the following safety systems failed to deploy: front airbags driver seatbelt pretensioner BMW assist / automatic emergency notification witnesses reported that my vehicle briefly went airborne before landing with the rear wheels up on a curb. I suffered neck injuries, and my vehicle sustained significant frontal damage. BMW later downloaded the event data recorder (edr) and confirmed: a frontal non-deployment event three fault codes in the airbag control module (acsm) post-crash the crash algorithm activated and reset ?v reached approx. 12. 4 mph longitudinal forward collision mitigation system issued an acute warning 0. 5 seconds before impact BMW states the “impulse was not sufficient” to trigger restraint deployment BMW has refused to provide: the deployment thresholds (?v criteria) for airbags or pre-tensioners any engineering explanation for why restraint systems did not activate any technical rationale for the acsm fault codes any escalation beyond customer relations all I have been given is an unsigned summary letter and the raw edr file. BMW customer relations stated that engineering is “not customer-facing” and that no additional information will be provided. This leaves serious concerns that: the restraint systems did not function properly in a real-world impact. BMW is refusing to disclose the engineering basis for its conclusions. Consumers may be at risk if this is a repeatable failure mode. I am requesting NHTSA review this incident as a potential defect in the airbag, pretensioner, and/or crash-sensing system in the 2025 BMW X5. I can provide the edr report, photos, BMW’s letter, and full correspondence upon request. VIN: [xxx] mileage: ~10,700 crash date: 09/02/2025 BMW case #: xxx information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Forward collision braking, a safety system, is deactivated when cruise control is activated. Further BMW sells the X5 with the mode button of the driver assistance package available on the steering wheel. This to me is deceptive. My previous X5 had the system a when I activated it by pressing the mode button it worked. I assumed by pressing the mode button on the new X5 it would also work. To me this is like activating the turn signal- the feature is there, you activate it, you expect it to work.